Need help? Want a travelling buddy or advice about a place or country – want to share something with us – why not visit our Mutual Aid section of the Website: Mutual Aid Hello everyone, my name is Kamila. I’m planning to trek in National Parks of the Andes in December 07 for several months.…

News from the China Daily that taxi drivers in China’s financial capital of Shanghai are to be issued with “spit sacks” to curb their habit of rolling down their windows and hawking into the road. Spitting cabbies will soon have a sack fixed to the metal grill that surrounds the driver’s seat, so that both…

The value of having a photocopy of the first page of your passport proved to be true for a lady military friend of mine. On a Saturday getting off tour bus in Dublin gypsies stole her purse in which she had passport, military ID, plane ticket (she was due to leave London the next day…

Police recently arrested a Kazak man trying to smuggle 500 parrots in his car from neighbouring Uzbekistan. Border guards are said to have discovered a live cargo of 500 parrots in his Audi. It was unclear how the parrots fit into the Kazakh man’s Audi. Trade in wild parrots is banned around the world, according…

Most EU citizens are not aware of their rights to seek help from fellow- members’ embassies when traveling abroad. A recent EU survey found only 23 percent of those questioned knew they could turn to other EU national embassies. Plans are afoot to increase awareness and protection of travelers.

A 41 year old Australian abalone diver recently told rescuers how he was partly swallowed head-first by a Great White Shark off Cape Howe, near Eden on Australia’s southeast coast but managed to fight his way free after trying to punch the shark in the eye. He escaped suffering a broken nose and bite marks…

Spotted by webmaster Paul, here’s a great link to a Fodor website which outlines just some of the world’s great train journeys.

Guides aimed at the discerning traveller who wants to do more than simply tick off the sights. 15% discount to GT members when shopping online or via our mail order service. Enter/ quote the coupon code GT/07 at time of ordering. Shop at www.bradtguides.com or +44 (0) 1753 893444.

A 21-year-old German tourist who wanted to visit his girlfriend in Sydney, Australia managed to land 13,000 kilometres away near Sidney, Montana, after mistyping his destination on a flight booking web site. Dressed for the Australian summer in t-shirt and shorts, Tobi Gutt left Germany for a four-week holiday. Instead of arriving “down under,” Gutt…

If you would like to sign an electronic petition to campaign against a proposal which inserts Islamic Sharia into the constitution of Kurdistan – go to this link. The petition organisers consider the inclusion of the Sharia clause as t a major attack on the basic rights and liberties of the people of this region.…